A world where nothing is guaranteed, is dangerous…
We’re always so optimistic.
Once our team elevates to a level at which they previously had not approached, we grow accustomed to it as fans. Believing that this newfound level of success is the new normal, and what should be expected.
But what doesn’t cross the mind of fans, every offseason, is the potential outcome that a program could regress. Perhaps the previous season’s triumphs were merely a flash in the pan, bound to precede the process of a program falling back down to earth.
I don’t mean to be grim, and I don’t even mean to doubt the potential Jayhawk Football possesses. However, too often, fans of any team view the previous season’s unexpected blessings as the next season’s routine afterthought. Unfortunately for unproven teams like the Kansas Jayhawks… this is not the case. Last year’s plucky win is not this year’s guarantee, in the same way that last year’s letdown losses are not doomed to repeat themselves.
Today, we’re addressing trap games on the 2024 schedule. Which games do we, as fans, consider as surefire wins that may cause reason for concern?
Let’s find out.
Kansas State is a team most Jayhawk fans have on their radar already. Kansas has lost 15 consecutive Sunflower Showdowns, with the next one occurring on the road. This shouldn’t be considered a trap game, because it’s already the most glaring threat to an undefeated season seen on the schedule. Nonetheless, if we were to bet on a loss the Jayhawks may take, Kansas State is certainly amongst the most viable options.
Last season, Kansas improved to 7-2 with a 28-21 road primetime win over the Cyclones. This year, however, Iowa State returns 20 of its 22 starters and close to 85% of their returning production. Rocco Becht returns at Quarterback, primed to follow in Brock Purdy’s footsteps. With Texas and Oklahoma out of the way, the Cyclones are aimed toward new heights, and it’s no guarantee that the Jayhawks will be able to slow them down. This home game, soon after the Kansas State trip, may be crucial in Big 12 Championship tie-breaking, and a true test for both up and coming programs.
West Virginia
West Virginia was labeled as fraudulent for much of last season because of their objectively favorable strength of schedule. They frequently scraped past inferior opponents and got trounced by legitimate conference contenders. With one of the lowest strength of schedules in the conference, they still finished ahead of the Jayhawks in the standings.
Nonetheless, a 9-4 team is a 9-4 team… and as far as road games go, in the Big 12, that’s a steep challenge. Kansas will be forced to contend with another veteran Quarterback in a competitive conference race.
Calling BYU a trap game is a slight reach, but it does go to show just how favorable this upcoming schedule truly is. BYU is known for springing upsets against power conference teams, although now the Cougars can be considered a power conference program in their own right. Circumstantially, this could be a dangerous spot for the Jayhawks. On the road, likely a late night game, in high altitude, a week removed from the Iowa State test, against a rebuilding program that just missed a bowl game last season… this is no free win by any means.
The purpose of this exercise is to recognize the fact that yes, Kansas is in prime position to take control of their season and turn it into one that pulls in trophies and previously undiscovered levels of success. However, it is important to keep in mind that no win from 2023 should automatically be considered a future triumph in the following season. Kansas State, Iowa State, West Virginia, and BYU are only a few examples of opponents that pose legitimate threats to Jayhawk success this year. It’s more than reasonable to suggest that at least one will get the better of Kansas next season.
Regardless of how challenging certain aspects of the schedule may be, the entirety of it contains a vast array of opportunities for Kansas to take advantage of and parlay into a conference championship game appearance or more. This team has the tools to achieve greatness, and the challenges outlined above may only be opportunities for the Jayhawks to prove they are a mainstay at the top of the Big 12 standings.